Tennis racket



June s, 1937. H D, ADAMS 2,082,772

TENNIS RACKET Filed March 24, 1934 Patented June 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TENNIS RACKET Hector Donald Adams, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Application March 24, 1934, Serial No. 717,240

In Australia April 13, 1933 4 claims. (c1. 27s- 73) This invention relates to rackets for use when playing tennis, squash rackets, badminton, and other like games, the object being to provide a racket of the required strength but which at the same time is of improved resiliency, whip,

and balance, and which has the further improvementthat the risk of fracture is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the construction is such that the wind resistance is also greatly lo reduced.

In carrying out the invention the bow or head is made to the desired shape of one-piece wood or of a number of laminations, the grip portion of the handle being completed to the desired l5 Width by the insertion of a strip of wood. Between the grip and the neck or throat the respective end portions of the one-piece wood or set of laminations are separated by means of distance pieces consisting of small pieces of wood, 29 metal, or other material so that one or more longitudinal slots are provided in the handle. The usual wedge may be provided in the throat, or, to provide an additional slot, the apex thereof may be cut away.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will be more fully described with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation (part broken away).

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation.

30 Fig. 3 is a broken front elevatio-n of an alternative arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation..

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 3 3, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

35 Fig. 6 is a broken front elevation of a further alternative.

Fig. 'l' is a transverse sectional elevation on line '1 -1, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a broken front elevation of a further 40 alternative arrangement.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view.

The bow A of the racket is made in the usual way to the desired shape of one piece of wood of the required section or of a number of lami- 45 nations B, which is or are bent to shape and carried round and on to form the handle where,

at the grip portion C, they are kept apart by a strip of wood of the desired thickness and width.

The wedge piece D at the throat or neck has the 50 apex cut off, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to form a slot E, or it may be extended, as shown in Figs.

3, 4, and 6, to form a distance piece F. In the former case a separate distance piece G is provided. 55 One or more distance pieces H of wood of the required thickness and length are inserted between the respective portions of the one piece or set of laminations between the neck or throat distance piece G and the distance piece in the grip portion C of the handle. Slots J are thus 5 provided on each side of the distance piece H. The distance piece or pieces H may be of any shape such as rectangular, diamond, oval, or such like.

To complete the handle so as to provide the 10 required grip the usual flakes or handle overlays K are secured by gluing onto the edges of the respective sets of laminations, the akes or overlays K being shaped down to the thickness of the one piece or laminations over the distance l5 piece G or near the throat, as in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is preferred that the iiakes or handle overlays should be shaped from single strips of wood so that the shaped-down portion L at the throat or neck end should cover the distance piece G, as in Figs. 1 and 2, for the full width. The ake or overlay is slotted out for the full length from the distance piece G to the bow end of the grip C.

The usual overlay M and inner lay MI are provided on the shoulder and lower portion of the bow A.

According to a variation of the invention, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, two slots J I are provided, two sets of distance pieces being provided to keep the various members the desired distance apart.

The various portions of the handles are secured together by gluing and screws or dowels N or other means of fastening, and, in addition or alternatively, they are bound by cord P or the like particularly where distance pieces are inserted.

According to another alternative arrangement, the handle is made in the usual way, the laminations B and overlays K being secured together as just described, and along the centre line from the wedge piece D to the grip C holes Q of suitable diameter -are formed through the handle. The Walls of the holes may be parallel, or double coned as in sectional view Fig. 9. The outer edges of the holes Q would be rounded, nosed, or chamfered.

The shape, thickness, and width of the various portions forming the handle would be as found most desirable and woods best suited for their respective purposes would be used.

The structure described greatly improves the whip, resiliency and balance of the racket, and these advantages appear to flow especially from the fact that the wooden handle has the slot J. For instance the presence of slot J reduces the body stock of the handle, and since the handle is of wood it will obviously have more whip as the result of such reduction of body. This would hardlybe true of a metal handle of hollow structure. Better balance is obtained by presence of slot J in handle, because the handle is not only made lighter in respect to the head A, which latter under present requirements is very light; but also the slot permits air to pass through when making'a stroke. The latter function is attained by a slotted hollow metal handle; but a slotted metal handle of hollow form would ybe just as heavy as an unslotted one. With awooden handle which is solid, the provision of slot ll materially lightens the weight/of the handle, "and consequently produces a balance not otherwise obtainable, without makingthe headAobj ectionably heavy.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner lthe Ysarne is to be performed, I declarerlthat w'hat claim is: `1. 'A'tennis racket comprising in combination a wooden bowportion, handle portions Vintegral with saidbowportion and being'laterally spaced whereby to .provide -an air passage slot therebetween, said handleportions being substantially parallel to a point adjacent saidl bbwportion and curved outwardly to said bow portion whereby to provide a throat portion, a wedge piece at said throat portion between the curved parts of said handle portions, longitudinally spaced distance pieces interposed in said handle slot between said handle portions, said wedge piece providing a closure for the adjacent end of said slot, and binding cords tightly secured around the handle portions in theizones of vsaid distance pieces.

"2. The combination set forth in claim l, and said wedge piece having its apex cut away whereby to provide an air passage hole in said throatvin prolongation of said slot.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, said 'wedge .piece lhaving .its apex cut away to provide V"an air passage hole in said throat in prolongation of said slot, and at least one of said distance ypieces v'being adjacent the throat portion and spaced from said hole.

j4. The combination set forth in claim l, and strip members disposed overloppositesides of said handle portions, said-strip members having :slots aligned with saidairfpassage slot, and eachA of said strip members'having lalcross portion interrupting itsslotat the siteof atleast one of saiddistance pieces and.substantiallyconcealing the same.

HCTOR DONALD ADAMS. 

